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Influenza vaccines: a pediatric perspective

H Cody Meissner1

  • 1Pediatric Infectious Disease, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. cmeissner@tufts-nemc.org

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|January 17, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Annual influenza immunization is recommended for children aged 6-59 months and their contacts. This strategy, including a two-dose plan for younger children, aims to reduce disease burden and mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Influenza poses a significant disease burden on children.
  • Current immunization recommendations for young children are evolving.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the disease burden of influenza in children.
  • To understand the rationale behind updated immunization recommendations for young children.
  • To examine current recommendations for trivalent, inactivated influenza vaccine and live, attenuated influenza vaccine.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature and public health recommendations regarding influenza vaccination in children.

Main Results:

  • Annual influenza immunization is recommended for all children aged 6 to 59 months and their household contacts, starting from the 2006-2007 season.
  • A two-dose vaccination strategy is advised for children under 9 years of age.

Conclusions:

  • Expanded influenza immunization recommendations are anticipated to decrease outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and mortality rates associated with influenza in both pediatric and adult populations.
Abstract

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